Portable soccer goal

ABSTRACT

A collapsible, portable sporting goal frame is provided, having a pair of side support frames connected by a pair of flexible cables. Each of the side frames is constructed of a sequence of individual tubular frame members that connect to one another on an end-to-end basis. An elastic cord runs through each of the tubular members, and is placed in a stretched configuration when the tubular members are slidably connected together, end-to-end. The elastic cord thereby applies a compressive force against the connected frame members, resisting the unintentional disassembly thereof. When storage or transport is required, the individual members slide apart, with the elastic cord maintaining sequential order of the frame members. The net is attached to the flexible cables and the tubular frame members collapse in a manner forming a take-up spindle for the netting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application,Serial No. 60/080,199, filed Mar. 31, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable framework structures and, moreparticularly, to such structures as are used with a net to construct agoal for use in various sporting events. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a portable soccer goal that is constructed ofinterconnecting components that can be easily assembled anddisassembled.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Although soccer has long been the world's most popular sport, in theUnited States soccer was virtually ignored throughout the 1960's and1970's. However, beginning with youth programs in the 1980's, thepopularity of soccer has dramatically increased, achieving nation-widerecognition in 1994 when the World Cup events were held in the UnitedStates.

Baseball remains the “national past time”; however, soccer is in rapidpursuit. In the year just prior to the World Cup competition, 12 millionyoungsters under age 18 had placed soccer even in popularity withsoftball and touch football. Moreover, according to the Soccer IndustryCouncil of America, soccer's popularity cuts across demographic andgeographic lines. Females account for over half of the players, andCalifornia and New York, followed by Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, havethe greatest percentage of children participating in the sport. Childrenof ages from 7 -11 years represent the single largest number of soccerplayers, accounting for approximately 42% of the nation's players. The“youth” of soccer is readily apparent, with players of age from 7-7representing over 70% of the nation's soccer players.

This rising popularity of soccer has resulted in the establishment ofincreasing numbers of recreational and competitive soccer teams. Withthe sport being taken more seriously, “semi-professional” coaches havebeen hired and practice regimens are scheduled. Fortunately, therequired equipment for practicing is minimal in comparison with someother sports, with a soccer ball and a rectangular field area all thatis required.

To increase the benefits of practice, simulation of the “goal area” isdesired. In order to sharpen both goal-tending skills and goal-scoringability, it is important that all three dimensions, height, width, anddepth of an official goal be present and available during at least partof the practice sessions.

Since schools are in large part responsible for the awakening ofchildren's interest in soccer, school grounds are frequently the sightof soccer practicing. Unfortunately, the majority of schools are unableto provide great numbers of “permanent” soccer fields, and thus mostsoccer teams and players must rely upon portable soccer goals if suchenhanced practice sessions are to be provided on a regular basis.

Regulation soccer goals measure 24 feet by 8 feet, and replication ofsuch a large netted structure in a portable design has proven to besomewhat difficult. One solution has been to utilize basically the samecomponents as in a permanent soccer goal, with attachment to a wheeledfoundation provided in the place of ground-foundation structures. Theresulting goal is quite heavy, and presents safety concerns to thosearound it, as will be discussed hereinafter.

An alternative solution has been the construction of soccer nets on siteusing a multiple-component framework to which separate netting isattached. Once assembled, the framework design tended to simulate themore permanent soccer net structures, and consequently included a numberof heavy, over-sized components that were of marginal portability.Additionally, by separating the netting from the outer framework, theopportunities for inadvertent separation of the two componentsincreased.

In addition to being of questionable portability, the semi-permanentwheeled nets and the use of heavy, multi-component frames also present asafety risk. When improperly installed or when they are used in a mannerfor which they were not designed. Such non-soccer activities haveincluded being climbed upon or used to perform acrobatics, with severe,if not fatal injuries, a result. In one case, as one person climbed onthe horizontal header of a 600-pound steel goal post, the goal posttipped forward and struck the head of another person who was hangingfrom the header, resulting in fatal injuries. At the time of theincident, this goal post was not properly anchored to the ground. Inanother case, while lifting a corner of the goal post to remove a netfor storage, the goal post fell, striking the head of a three-year-oldboy—again resulting in fatal injuries.

Over a fourteen-year period, the Consumer Products Safety Commissioninvestigated 27 injuries relating to falling soccer goal posts. Eighteenof these injuries were fatal, primarily as a result of head trauma, withthe injured being predominantly male, and ten-year old (average age). Ofthe 27 goal posts involved, 26 were made of metal, usually steel orgalvanized pipe and 23 of the goal posts were mobile. Virtually all ofthe injuries occurred when the goal post fell forward, its top cross barstriking the victim.

All 27 events were witnessed, and in the majority of cases an adult waseither directly supervising or in the general vicinity at the time ofthe injury. With the mouth of a soccer goal post completely open to theplaying field, only three sides of the goal are available to stabilizeand prevent a forward collapse of the goal. The injuries typicallyresulted from climbing on the goal posts, swinging or hanging from crossbars, or from doing chin-ups on the crossbars. The Consumer ProductsSafety Commission recommends that goal posts not in use should be eitherchained to a fence or other permanent structure, placed goal-faced-downon the ground, or disassembled for storage.

The growing popularity of soccer has resulted in an increased need forportable soccer goals. Portability and safety concerns both require thatsuch goals be lightweight, with easy assembly and disassembly by theirusers. Additionally, since many times such practice sessions occur withfew adults present, it is important that when disassembled, the soccernet be as compact and easy to carry as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sporting goal thatcan be easily set up and dismantled, and that can be reduced in size forease in portability.

It is a further object of the present invention to greatly eliminate orminimize the need for clips and fasteners to attach the netting to asupport framework.

A still further object of the present invention is to construct theframe out of multiple members of minimum individual length, permittingcollapse of the frame to a minimum size while the assembled size of theframe enables the use of a larger net.

A still further object of the present invention is to utilized thecollapsed, individual frame members of minimum length to provide aspindle about which the netting may be wound for further ease intransporting the collapsed net.

A further object of the present invention is to attach the supportframes to one another in a manner that does not require a rigid framemember, yet also provides a support from which the netting can be hung.

A further object of the present invention utilizes a non-rigidconnecting member to attach the pair of support frames to one-another ina manner that easily defines and establishes the overall dimensions ofthe goal when fully erected, as well as further assists in conformingthe collapsed framework to a shape about which the netting can be easilywrapped.

In this regard, a portable soccer goal utilizes a net spread between andsupported by a pair of side support frames. Each frame is constructed ofmultiple individual tubular sections that may be joined together in anend-to-end manner. An elastic cord runs within the tubular sections, andthe compressive force occasioned by the stretching of this cord whenadjacent frame sections are joined assists in maintaining the structuralrigidity of the assembled frame construction.

A flexible cable connects the two frame members together, and is used tosuspend the netting that will extend between the two frames when fullydeployed. The netting remains attached to the cables during storage,which insures a degree of order that assists in both the set-up andteardown operations. Additional lateral support is provided the erectedgoal by tensioning straps that are attached to each support frame andextend away from the net to a stake that is temporarily anchored in theground.

Disassembly of the frame requires only a temporary, further stretchingof the cord to separate the end-to-end frame member attachment. Theelastic cord then permits the adjoining frame members to fold togetherto create the spindle-like structure used to receive the attachednetting.

Some further objects and advantages of the present invention shallbecome apparent from the ensuing description and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, showing aportable soccer net in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a disassembled supportframework in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a partially erected supportframework and tie-down system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view taken within circle 3A of FIG. 3showing the manner in which a net support cable and a tensioning strapare attached to a support brace in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation view showing a side support frameworkhaving an alternative, enhanced support bracing system in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the supporting framework for theportable tent disassembled and enwrapped in the netting material,forming a compact arrangement for storage in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a storage and transport containerfor the portable net in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout. A portable soccer goal 10 is shown in FIG. 1,having a net 14 spread between and supported by a pair of side supportframes 18. Additional support for the soccer goal 10 is provided by apair of tensioning straps 22 that are attached to and extend from theside support frames 18 to an anchoring stake 24.

The pair of support frames 18 are attached to one another by a pair oflateral support cables 26 (best shown in FIG. 2) and by the net 14. Inan embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the net 14 is attached to bothside support frames 18 as well as being slidably received upon thelateral support cables 26 (FIG. 2). In this manner, when the sidesupport frames 18 are spaced apart to the maximum extent permitted bythe support cables 26, the support frames 18 and the support cables 26form a supporting frame of proper dimensions over which the net 14extends.

When fully erected, the side support frames 18 include a pair of supportlegs 28. Turning to FIG. 2, each of the support legs 28 consist of aplurality of individual leg segments 32. In the case of each of thesupport legs 28, the individual leg segments 32 are interlinked by anelastic cord 36. Extending from a head beam 42 of the side support frame18 to the most distant leg segment 32, the elastic cord 36 has a lengthshorter than the fully extended support leg 28. As a result, the elasticcord 36 exerts a compressive force against each of the individual legsegments 32 when the support leg 28 has been fully assembled.

The interconnections between the adjacent leg segments 32 are formed ina manner to advantageously utilize the compressive force generated bythe elastic cord 36. The individual leg segments 32 have an attachmentsleeve 44 formed at a first end of each leg segment 32 with an endsocket 46 formed at an opposite end of the leg segment 32. In thismanner, with the individual leg segments 32 placed in an end-to-endarrangement, the attachment sleeves 44 of adjoining leg segments 32 arereceived within the end sockets 46 of the next-adjoining leg segment 32.

The head beam 42 includes a lateral cross brace 48 with a pair ofbracket legs 52 formed at either end thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the various supporting structures are formed of a rectangular stockmaterial, such as PVC tubing. In a presently preferred alternativeembodiment, circular aluminum tubing is used instead to form the sidesupport frames 18, including both the head beam 42 and the plurality ofindividual leg segments 32 that form the pair of support legs 28.

Such a preferred, alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, where apair of triangularly-shaped corner gussets 54 are provided, eachattached to a separate one of the bracket legs 52 and extending to anadjacent portion of the lateral cross brace 48. This pair of cornergussets 54 are particularly advantageous when the frame structure isfabricated out of this extruded aluminum tubing, as they further enhancethe structural integrity of the head beam 42. Additionally, as will besubsequently discussed, regardless of the fabrication material used toform the side support frames 18, the pair of corner gussets 54 alsoprovide an improved and simplified attachment location for the net 14.

Returning momentarily to FIG. 2, the bracket legs 52 each have asleeve-receiving opening 55 formed therein of a size to receive theattachment sleeve 44 of an initial one of the plurality of leg segments32. In this manner each of the support legs 28 is received by the headbeam 42, with the compressive force exerted by the extended elastic cord36 biasing the individual leg segments 32 together at each of theattachment sleeve-end socket connections, as well as biasing theindividual support legs 28 to the head beam 42.

Such a configuration is clearly shown in FIG. 4, with only the final legsegments 32 requiring insertion to complete the formation of the supportlegs 28. FIG. 4 also illustrates one mechanism by which the tensioningstraps 22 provide additional stability for the side support frames 18.

In addition to providing lateral stability, the tensioning strap 22terminates in a Y-attachment strap 56 that puts equal pressure on bothof the lateral support cables 26 (not shown in FIG. 4). The equalizationof support obtained through the use of the Y-attachment strap 56 assistsin providing fore-aft as well as torsional stability for the soccer goal10 in a manner that would be extremely difficult to accomplish ifseparate support straps were provided on each side.

In FIG. 4, each leg of the Y-attachment strap 56 is attached to aseparate one of the bracket legs 52 of the head beam 42 utilizing astrap fastener 58. A presently preferred alternative manner of attachingthe Y-attachment strap 56 makes use of the pair of corner gussets 54previously mentioned in the context of FIG. 3. As is best shown in FIG.3A, a pair of inner and outer sleeve receiving openings 55 a, 55 b areformed in each of the corner gussets 54. A snaplink fastener 60 (alsoknown as a carabiner) is attached to each terminal end of theY-attachment strap 56, and then each is selectively attached to aseparate one of the inner sleeve receiving opening 55 b on the pair ofcorner gussets 54.

In a similar manner, the front and back lateral support cables 26 arepreferably attached to the pair of corner gussets 54. As is alsopartially depicted in FIG. 3A, a separate snaplink fastener 60 isattached to each of the front and back lateral support cables 26. Eachcable snaplink fastener 60 is then selectively attached to a separateone of the outer sleeve receiving openings 55 a on the pair of cornergussets 54. Utilizing each of the pair of corner gussets 54 as thepoints of attachment for the Y-attachment strap 56 and the supportcables 26, eliminates the extra fabrication step of forming the strapfasteners 58.

Adjustments in the tension applied by the tensioning straps 22 ispreferably easily effected by the utilization of a friction or cam-lockfastener 62 to connect the tensioning straps 22 to the anchoring stake24. Such a device enables the easy adjustment of the tension beingapplied by the tensioning straps 22, requiring only the promptshortening or lengthening thereof.

The alternative methods of attaching the net 14 to the side supportframes 18 are best explained by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In bothcases, the lateral support cables 26 are each woven through and in thesection of netting that separates the opposed pair of side supportframes 18. Such interweaving within a cable of fixed length enables thenetting to extend at a known, appropriate dimension when the portablesoccer goal 10 is fully assembled. Such interweaving also assists inmaintaining the net 14 in a favorable orientation during disassembly, aswill be discussed hereinafter.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a further securement of the net to anupper portion of the support frame 18 is provided by utilizing one ormore snaplinks or carabiners 60 to attach the net 14 to the cross brace48 of the head beam 42. The presently preferred embodiment utilizing thecorner gussets 54 as the attachment location for the support cables 26does not require such additional snaplink attachment to the side supportframes 18.

Turning now to FIG. 3, in the case of both embodiments, stabilization ofthe lower portion of the net 14 is preferably achieved by the use ofadditional snaplinks 60. A first snaplink attaches a lower front portionof the netting to a bottom opening of the front lower leg segment 32,and a second snaplink attaches a suitably spaced lower portion of thenet to a bottom opening of the rear lower leg segment 32. To preventsnarls in the net during storage, both snaplinks should be attached tothe lateral support cables 26. Since some users may not take thisadditional step, a presently preferred alternative attachment device isa bungee toggle fastener, consisting of a length of an elastic cord withthe two ends fastened together within a small ball (not shown in thedrawings).

The doubled cord is then threaded within a net opening, wrapped aroundone of the support frames, and when received over the ball attached tothe other end of the cord, is secured in place. Since fabricated of anelastic member, the bungee toggle can also be used to apply a tension tothe netting, resulting in an improved “bounce-back” of the soccer ballsafter impacting the net.

Whether by snaplinks or by bungee toggles, the netting 14 is releaseablysecured to each of the support legs 28 during use of the portable soccergoal 10. However, the netting 14 is secured in a manner such that it canbe easily removed therefrom during the disassembly of the support frameconstruction.

For ease in transport and assembly, as is shown in FIG. 5, each of theleg segments 32 are preferably fabricated out of a hollow tubing member.Although illustrated in FIG. 5 as if fabricated out of rectangulartubing, other geometric shapes are also appropriate, including thepresently preferred use of circular tubing. When such circular tubing isused, the overall shape of the collapsed net and net supports is morecircular than the rectangular shape depicted in FIG. 5.

The present inventive use of individually-segmented side support framesnot only assists in the assembly of the portable soccer goal 10, but isalso greatly advantageous during the disassembly, transportation, andstorage of this portable soccer goal 10. Disassembly is preferablyinitiated by releasing the netting from its attachment to each of theside support frames 18, detaching the snaplinks 60 that attach the loweredge of the netting to the lower openings of each of the support legs28. Thereafter, tension is released from the tensioning straps 22,permitting the lowering of the side support frames 18.

The tensioning straps 22 are then either disconnected from the anchoringstake 24 or the stakes are removed from the ground. Each of the supportlegs 28 may then be collapsed by the sequential removal of the adjoiningleg segments from one another. Linked together by the elastic cord 36,adjacent leg segments 32 conveniently fold against one another in aserpentine manner. Each of the support legs 28 collapses to form asubstantially compact, rectangularly-shaped cube if plastic segments areused, or a tubular-shape if circular aluminum segments form the supportlegs 28.

The head beam 42 is preferably dimensioned such that it generallycorresponds in length to each of the collapsed support legs, permittingboth collapsed legs and the head beam 42 to collectively form a compactstructure that can be held together utilizing a storage strap 72 (seeFIG. 2) of sufficient length to encircle the two collapsed support legsand retain them in position adjacent the head beam 42.

Turning now to FIG. 5, with the side support frames 18 neatly collapsedand secured, such collapsed frames can conveniently function as a spoolabout which to wrap the netting 14. With the collapsed support frames 18located at each end of the netting 14, each of the collapsed supportframes need only take up one-half of the netting 14. The resultingcollapsed structure is of greatly compacted dimensions in comparison tothe erected portable soccer goal 10, and can be conveniently stored andtransported in a carrying case 74 (see FIG. 6).

In a preferred embodiment, the individual leg segments 32 of the supportlegs 28 are fabricated out of swaged or sleeved circular metal tubing, 1in diameter, such as aluminum, or out of a circular plastic, PVC tubing.To achieve a goal area of four (4) feet deep, the rear support leg mustbe angled away from the front support leg, forming an angle ofapproximately 101° versus 90° for the front. Additionally, one of theleg segments used in each of the rear support legs must be slightlylonger than those segments used in the front legs.

In a preferred embodiment, the longer section measures 28¼ in length,with all of the remaining leg segments, for both the front and rearsupport legs, measuring 26½ in length. For each of the leg segments,that portion of the segment that is swaged to form the attachment sleeve44 has a reduced dimensions of ⅞ in diameter and extends a length of 3″from the non-reduced portion of the leg segments. While a greater lengthof sleeve would provide a support leg having greater structuralrigidity, it would also make assembly and disassembly of the supportlegs more difficult. Conversely, while a shorter sleeve would somewhatsimplify construction, the ability of the resulting support leg to bearany side loading would be significantly reduced.

The elastic cord 36 is preferably a cord of length 6 feet and anun-stretched diameter of 4 mm, constructed of FiberTex. It is preferablyattached to the bracket leg 52 and the lower leg segment 32 by a pin ora screw. The tensioning straps are semi-elastic, functioning as shockabsorbers to protect the integrity of the light frames when they arestruck, and are fabricated out of nylon or polyester of width 1 andthickness of approximately {fraction (1/11)}″. The anchoring stake 24can be fabricated out of a variety of materials, with 6″ to 12″ beingpreferred in areas of harder ground. The tensioning strap 22 ispreferably attached to the anchoring stake 24 using an adjustablefastener, such as Cambuckle #Y1823, manufactured by Bungee Internationalof Oxnard, Calif.

Traditional netting used for soccer has a rectangular mesh size ofapproximately 6″ (diagonal), and is constructed out of polyestermaterial of thread size approximately 1-3 mm in diameter, with 2 mmpreferred.

My invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodimentthereof, which provides an improved soccer goal that is of great noveltyand utility. Various changes, modifications, and alterations in theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilledin the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes andmodifications.

I claim:
 1. A sports goal having a net and a frame, said framecomprising: a pair of side support frames, each of said pair furthercomprising: a plurality of tubular frame members, each having anattachment sleeve formed at a first end and an end socket formed at asecond end, said attachment sleeve of a reduced circumference andadapted to be received by and mate with said end socket of an adjoiningone of said plurality of tubular frame members when placed substantiallyin registration with one another, a head beam having at least two endsockets formed therein and detachably receiving a pair of said tubularframe members said head beam generally corresponding in length to eachof said tubular frame members, and an elastic cord received within eachof said tubular frame members and said head beam, and flexiblyinterconnecting same, said elastic cord maintaining connection betweenadjacent mating tubular frame members and between said head beam andadjacent mating tubular frame members when said side support frame is ina collapsed state said head beam and said collapsed state side supportmembers collectively forming a spool to receive said net for transportand storage; and at least one flexible support cable attached to andextending between said pair of side support frames.
 2. A goal frameaccording to claim 1, wherein two flexible support cables are providedand are attached to said head beam on each of said pair of side supportframes.
 3. A goal frame according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofsaid tubular frame members of said pair of side support frames aresequentially arranged with alternating first and second ends ofrespective adjacent frame members.
 4. A goal frame according to claim 3,wherein said plurality of sequentially arranged tubular frame membersare arranged as a pair of separate sequentially arranged multiple framemembers.
 5. A goal frame according to claim 4, wherein said head beam isinterspaced between and detachably receives and connects said pair ofseparate sequentially arranged multiple frame members.
 6. A goal frameaccording to claim 5, wherein said flexible support cable is attached tosaid head beam of each side support frame.
 7. A goal frame according toclaim 6, wherein two flexible support cables are provided.
 8. A goalframe according to claim 1, and further comprising a tensioning supportstrap attached to and extending from each of said pair of side supportframes, a terminus of said tensioning support strap adapted fortemporary attachment to a support.
 9. A goal frame according to claim 8,wherein said tensioning support strap is attached to said head beam. 10.A goal frame according to claim 9, wherein said terminus is a groundstake.
 11. A portable sporting goal comprising: a framework comprising apair of support frames, each of said support frames comprising: aplurality of tubular frame members sequentially arranged andinterconnecting with one another in a substantially linear manner, atubular cross brace received by and interspersed between said sequentialarrangement of interconnected tubular frame members, an elastic cordreceived by and extending within said tubular cross brace and saidsequential arrangement of interconnected tubular frame members saidelastic cord maintaining said sequential arrangement of said tubularframe members and said tubular cross brace when each is disconnectedfrom an adjacent member of said framework to define a collapsed state,said tubular brace and said tubular frame members collectively defininga spool to receive said net for transport and storage when in saidcollapsed state, and a flexible cable attached to and extending betweeneach of said pair of support frames; and a net attached to and adaptedto drape from said flexible cable.
 12. A portable goal according toclaim 11, wherein said flexible cable is detachably attached to saidtubular cross brace of each of said pair of support frames and whereinsaid flexible cable is received by said net in an interwoven manner witha plurality of individual mesh of said net.
 13. A portable goalaccording to claim 12, and further comprising a pair of lateral supportcables, each attached to a separate one of said pair of support framesand extending to form a detachable connection with a support surface.14. A portable goal according to claim 11, wherein alternating ends ofsaid sequentially arranged tubular frame members form attachment sleevesof reduced diameter adapted for slidable interengagement with adjacenttubular members when the adjacent pair of tubular members aresubstantially in registration with each other.
 15. A portable goalaccording to claim 11, wherein said tubular cross brace is receivedwithin said sequential arrangement of tubular frame members in a mannerdefining a first support leg and a second support leg, each comprising aplurality of tubular frame members.
 16. A portable goal according toclaim 15, and further comprising a plurality of connectors releasablyattached to said net and separate ones of said pair of support legs ofsaid tubular frame members.
 17. A portable goal according to claim 16,wherein said plurality of connectors comprise friction fasteners.